Porous metal-organic framework Cu3(BTC)2 as catalyst used in air-cathode for high performance of microbial fuel cell

Pei Tian; Di Liu; Kexun Li; Tingting Yang; Junjie Wang; Yi Liu; Song Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.034

Porous metal-organic framework Cu₃(BTC)₂ as catalyst used in air-cathode for high performance of microbial fuel cell

Bioresour Technol. 2017 Nov;244(Pt 1):206-212. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.034. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

Authors

Pei Tian¹, Di Liu¹, Kexun Li², Tingting Yang¹, Junjie Wang¹, Yi Liu¹, Song Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ The College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300071, China.
² The College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Tianjin 300071, China. Electronic address: likx@nankai.edu.cn.
³ School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300071, China.

PMID: 28779673
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.034

Abstract

Metal-organic framework Cu₃(BTC)₂, prepared by an easy hydrothermal method, was used as the oxygen-based catalyst in microbial fuel cell (MFC). The maximum power density of Cu₃(BTC)₂ modified air-cathode MFC was 1772±15mWm^-2, almost 1.8 times higher than the control. BET results disclosed high specific surface area of 2159.7m²g^-1 and abundant micropores structure. Regular octahedron and porous surface of Cu₃(BTC)₂ were observed in SEM. XPS testified the existence of divalent copper in the extended 3D frameworks, which importantly acted as the Lewis-acid sites or redox centers in ORR. Additionally, the total resistance decreased by 42% from 17.60 to 10.24Ω compared with bare AC electrode. The rotating disk electrode test results showed a four-electron transfer pathway for Cu₃(BTC)₂, which was crucial for electrochemical catalytic activity. All the structural and electrochemical advantages make Cu₃(BTC)₂ a promising catalyst for ORR in MFC.

Keywords: Cu(3)(BTC)(2); Lewis acidity; Microbial fuel cell; Oxygen reduction reaction; Specific surface area.

MeSH terms

Air
Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Catalysis
Electrodes
Oxygen

Substances

Oxygen